Shaw's Kellie Ballew Named 2024 IWBI Trailblazer

Dalton, GA, March 20, 2025-Shaw Industries announces that chief sustainability & innovation officer Kellie Ballew has been honored with the 2024 IWBI Trailblazer Award by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). This award recognizes individuals who are pushing the boundaries of the WELL movement in innovative ways, helping to advance health & wellbeing in the built environment. 

The recognition comes as part of IWBI’s annual Community Awards, which celebrates leaders committed to promoting people-first places – spaces designed to prioritize occupant health and wellness.

Throughout her 30-year career at Shaw, Ballew has been a driving force behind manufacturing excellence and product innovation. She has played a pivotal role in embedding sustainability into Shaw’s product development and manufacturing processes. Her efforts ensure that Shaw’s sustainability strategy helps to create a better future and a better world, with a keen focus on the health and wellbeing of all people and our planet.

Among her many contributions:

• She was instrumental on the team that developed Shaw’s EcoWorx carpet tile, the industry’s first PVC-free and fully recyclable carpet tile, which became the industry’s first Cradle to Cradle Certified carpet tile. Today, nearly 90% of the products Shaw manufacturers are Cradle to Cradle Certified.

• Under her leadership, Shaw was the first flooring company to receive the Works with WELL product license for its EcoWorx carpet tile which demonstrates EcoWorx’ alignment with health strategies within the WELL Building Standard.

• She played a key role in the 2024 launch of EcoWorx Resilient- a PVC-free, fully recyclable, and low embodied carbon flooring solution that sets a new standard for sustainability and performance.

Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.